Drive chain



Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,556

E. B. NlcHoLs DRIVE CHAIN Filed Aug. 20, 1926 0 Imm :s un

Patented Get.. 3G, 1928.

EDGAR B. NICHOLS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YGEK.

DRIVE CHAIN.

Application filed August 2o, 192e.

This invention relates to chains and particularly to drive chains. @ne object of my invention is to provide a cheap link formed from strip material. Another objectis to provide a link which is accurate in dimension and which can be made strong` tor lits weight. Another object is to provide a reinforcing layer et metal at the weakest part ot the link. Another object is to provide a l0 drive chain link built up from a plurality of metal layers. Still another object is to provide a link which, it desired, may be provided with a-certain amount of resiliency to care lor the shock of suddenly applied power, and other objects will appear hercinafter, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the claims at the end ot the specification.

ln drive chains, such as sprocket chains, link belt chains, etc., the highcost has lways been a drawback to their' more vgeneral use. To be suitable for most purposes cXtreme accuracy in the pin openings is required and it has been common practice to punch out these links and then drill and some times ream the pinholes in the links thus formed. This has necessarilybeen an expensive operation and the cost of chains employing such links is high.

ln certain classes oit work there has been provided links having` a certain amount of resiliency,-that is, links capable of permitting variations between the pin openings under a sudden applied torce, the link resiliency permitting the pin apertures to return to a normal spacing under the normal steady force applied during normal operan tion. To secure such resiliency the pin open ings of the links have been slotted in'various 4ways to reduce cross sectional areas at given points.

My new strip metal link is designed to overcome thedisadvantages of the punched up link, and is adaptable to form rigid or resilient links as required, by metal strip construction, adding additional layers oit' metal when additional strength is required.

Coming now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts throughout Fig. l is a side elevation of a section of a drive chain having links constructed in accordance with and embodying one form of my invention, parts being shown in section;

Serial No. 130,530.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another 55 embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view ot' a link memr constructed in accordance with another embodiment of my invention;

Fig; Ll is a top plan view etl chain section shown in Fig. 2; and

Figs. 5, 6, if, 8 andl 9 are typical .formed up links made in accordance with and illustrating my invention. y

Rete 1ring to Fig. l, the drive chain may be composed of a plurality otlinks l, each consisting' oit a strip of metal, here shown as rectangular in cross section, formed into a i pair et' pin loops 2 throughwhieh pins 3` pass. Between the pin 'loops 2 are a series ot layers 4t oi strip metal and I prefer to weld one end 5 ot the strip to the next strip G. It should be here noted that in this form oll link there is a greater cross sectional area ot metal midway between the links, givingJ strength where it is most necessary. In thisl embodiment there is a pin bearing which does not contact with the pin through its entire periphery. i

A chain may be built up of as many of these links as desired, and the pins 3 may bey headed over on washers 7 or the familiar type of side plates 8 lmay be used, as shown in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 2 and 4f a stronger chain is shown as being built up oi a plurality of folds of metal of dissimilar shape, one fold reinforcing the other. Here the links members l() .include pin loops 1l, each adapted to cngage the pins l2, the second 'fold 13 lying in the same plane as the iirst foldandy being shaped into teeth le. Side plates 8 may be used to connect the link elements with' the pins 12 into a power chain.

Fig. 3 illustrates the simplest form of link element made in accordance with my inven tion'. A flat band of metal 20 is'bent into pin loops 2l of similar shape, there being three thicknesses of metal at 22 between the pin loops. lVelding may be used for uniting two or more of these layers if desired. l

Fig. 5 is for a link element similar to that shown in Fig. 3, lbut built for greater strength. A metal strip 30 is bent into pin loops 3l and about the link thus formed another convolution ot' metal 32 is tormedto reinforce the first metal layer. This type of link illustrates a relatively rigid link.

It a certain amount of resiliency is required, the link elements shown in Figs. G, 7, 8 and 9 may be built up to permit such resiliency Where required.

For instance, in Fig. 6 the element consists of a metal strip bent into pin loops 41, that portion 42 intermediate the pin loops being arched, preferably above the normal a-Xisof the pin loops. The Central portion L13 of the link consists oi a plurality of met-al layers, and the angularly disposed portions all tend to spring apart under a sudden force, returning to their normal position under a normal load.

ln Fig. 7 l show a link element 51 made up 'from the metal strip 50 Wound so that the pin loops 52 and connecting member 53 is of greater' rigidity than Vthe teeth 541. These teeth, being of a single metal layer, may give or spring from their normal position when force is suddenly applied. Such a chain is useful tor machine starting chains.

Fig. 8 shows a simple link element 61 made from band stock 60 having single layer combined pin loops (32 and, teeth 63, there being a multi-ply connecting member 64. rThis type of link is more resilient than that shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 9 the link element 7 0 is made from a plurality et laminations of relatively thin metal 71 shaped into pin loops 72, an arched l v connection 74e and teeth 7 3.

Obviously, from the examples above described, my invention may be embodied. into such forms as may come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what l cla'm as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

1. Av link for drive chainsv comprising a plurality of metal layers, one layer including pin loops, and another layer including gear engaging teeth.

2. A link for drive chains comprising a plurality of metal layers, one layer including pin loops, another layer including gear engaging teeth, the second layer having areas in contact With and reinforcing the iirst layer. Y

3. A lnk for drive chains comprising a plurality oit' metal layers, one layer including pin loops, and another layer in contact With the tiretV layer throughout the greater part ot its length, and spaced from the first layer adjacent the pin loops to term gear engaging teeth.

4. .A link for drive chains comprisinga plurality ot metallayers of strip material including pin loops of substantially cylindrieal Vshape formed in one layer ot metal, and a second layer of metal coiled about the first layer, gear engaging teeth being included in the second layer ot metal, said gear engaging teeth having portions engaging portions of the pin loops.

5. A link for drive chains comprising a plurality of metal layers, one layer including pin loops. another layer including gear engaging-teeth, the layers of metal between the pin loops. and gear engaging teeth lying in contact.

Signed at Rochester, N. Y., this 18th day ol August, 1926.

EDGAR B. NICHOLS. 

